Want to ring in the Christmas Season with family and friends? Do you have a special someone you would like to remember at Christmas? How about an old-fashioned Christmas Tree Lighting right here in the heart of Sullivan County and join in on some old-time Christmas caroling around the tree? Historic Blountville is the place to be!

This year’s festivities will begin with the traditional Historic Blountville Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in front of the old Sullivan County Courthouse at 6 PM on Thurs., Dec. 9, 2021.

Hon. Richard S. Venable, Sullivan County Mayor, will deliver the Welcome address. WJHL’s Chris McIntosh will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Rev. Clay Austin of First Baptist Church will conduct the invocation. Special guests will include Hon. Barry Staubus, District Attorney General; Hon. Jeff Cassidy, Sullivan County Sheriff.

Matthew Johnson, Assistant Director of the Department of Archives and Tourism, will do the honor of lighting the town Christmas tree, a massive thirty-foot blue spruce that adorns the front lawn of the historic courthouse. Hon. Jeff Cassidy, Sullivan County Sheriff, will present a special Christmas address. Christmas carols and other special holiday music will be performed by the West Ridge High School Choir under the direction of Christy Noah and Denise McReynolds, Theater and Choral Directors for West Ridge High School. Sullivan County residents Cora and Chloe Caldwell will perform  “Mary Did You Know” on violin and guitar.

Continuing the tradition of “One Special Town… Two Special Trees”, the ceremony will include the traditional tree lighting of the beautiful 30-foot Douglas fir in front of the courthouse.

A second tree lighting will also be held during the ceremony by the Hope for Victims Support and Advocacy Group in remembrance of victims of violence. Area residents are encouraged to participate by bringing an ornament in honor of family members lost to violence. Victims Remembrance Tree Organizer Joan Berry said, “It is in remembrance of everyone that has lost a loved one to homicide. Holidays can be extremely sad for families who have lost a loved one to violent crime. The remembrance tree gives families from East Tennessee the opportunity to do something special for their loved ones.”

Food vendors will be offering hot chocolate and a variety of other food items at the Christmas Tree Lighting.

The Historic Blountville Christmas Tree Lighting ceremonies are sponsored by the Sullivan County Department of Archives and Tourism and the partnership of the Second Judicial District Attorney General’s Office and the local chapter of the Hope for Victims Support and Advocacy Group.

The general public is cordially invited to celebrate the Historic Blountville Christmas Tree Lighting, a beautiful Sullivan County tradition.